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  • TBILISI: Russians Are Going

    RUSSIANS ARE GOING
    By Keti Sikharulidze

    The Messenger, Georgia
    May 15 2006

    Russian military base in Akhalkalaki

    The Russian militaries have started the process of the withdrawal of
    heavy military equipment from Akhalkalaki military base by loading
    twenty one train carriages at Tsalka railway station on May 13.

    The first train is to leave the territory of Georgia on May 15.

    "A part of the equipment has already been loaded. Altogether there
    will be loaded seven battle tanks, ten armored vehicles and amphibious
    scout cars, as well as other military hardware would be withdrawn
    from Akhalkalaki through the railway via Tsalka and Azerbaijan to the
    Russian Federation," Igor Konoshenkov, assistant commander-in-chief
    of Russian Land Troops told Russian news agency RIA Novosti May 13.

    A special train will arrive in Russia through Azerbaijan. Georgia
    and Azerbaijan are responsible for the security of transportation on
    their territories.

    The loading of equipment was attended the representatives of the
    Georgian armed forces General Staff.

    "Everything goes according to the schedule. Certainly, everyone here
    has their responsibilities, mainly the Georgian Military Forces are
    responsible for the security," Alexander Kiknadze, deputy General
    Staff told Rustavi-2 Saturday.

    The only problem that the Russian militaries faced was lack of
    personnel as only one soldier had to load three or four cars.

    "We do not have many problems, the only problem is lack of personnel
    and it makes work more difficult. We faced the same problems last
    year and in fact, one man has to make twice as more work," Vladimir
    Kuparadze Colonel of Russian Military Troops in the Caucasus told
    Rustavi-2.

    Meanwhile as it was reported the second train loaded with military
    hardware will leave Georgia for Russia on May 23. One more train is
    to leave for Russia through Azerbaijan from the Batumi military base.

    The initial pullout of the Russian bases from the Georgian territory
    started first in August 2005 when a vehicle convoy left the Russian
    Military Base #12 in Batumi.

    According to the Georgian-Russian agreement on the withdrawal of
    the Russian bases signed on March 31, the Akhalkalaki base will be
    closed by October 1, 2007. The heavy equipment in the Akhalkalaki and
    Batumi bases must be removed by the end of this year. 370 pieces of
    military hardware from Akhalkalaki base will be transferred to the
    Russian Military Base 102 in Gyumri, Armenia.
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